Six celebrities headed into the Big Brother House on 9th March 2001 as part of the BBC's Comic Relief season. The shows were shown on both BBC1 and Channel 4 and was discussed in the BBC2 news show Newsnight, the Radio 4 show Today on on Radio 5 Live.
Jack Dee was the first to speak in the Big Brother House saying: "It's good to be away from the cameras."
Anthea, who fulfilled millions of viewers' dreams when she was locked up, was nominated for the boot along with Chris Eubank on the first day. Three of her housemates - Chris, Jack and Claire - voted to evict her. Chris used a straw poll by throwing scraps of paper in the air to make his nominations while Jack drews cards. Chris was voted for the push by Keith, Anthea - who felt there could be tension between him and Boyzone's Keith - and Vanessa. She thought the macho man might not do his share of washing-up.
Lord Eubank did his best to entertain the viewers and annoy the housemates with his life philosophy, strutting around the house with his walking stick and wearing a dress. After Eubank claimed his common sense was his main quality, Jack Dee could be seen swallowing his disbelief. Keith Daley revealed how he had goosed Eubank some months before - something which caused Eubank to doubt Keith's sexuality.
Claire asked Anthea whether she had ever had a pigeion on her shoulder - but said she was sure she had had a cockatoo in her mouth.
Insiders later revealed that Anthea and Jack had been caught cheating - by sneaking in mobile phones into the East London house.
One said: "They got a dressing down. Phones are strictly banned."
In the second round of voting, Vanessa and Jack were selected for the viewer's vote. Vanessa then started to break down emotionally, writing screeds of drivel on the table before crying and pouring her heart out to Jack. Jack told her: "I find you difficult company. Why don't you get real?". Jack himself reacted to the eviction selection by conducting a second failed attempt to escape.
Meanwhile, outside Lord Eubank appeared on Chris Evans' radio show, and Evans offered to subscribe �50,000 to Comic Relief if he managed to break back into the house. He didn't bother.
On Monday Vanessa was evicted. Jack Dee was so upset at having to stay in the house he asked Big Broither to fix the next eviction so he could leave. Unfortunately Keith was among those nominated in round 3. As Jack put it:"He hasn't been to number twos since he's been here." As Keith put it: "I'm full of shit." I wonder why all the other three chose to recommend him for eviction.
By Tuesday the group is running short of food and drink and they discuss reusing tea-bags. Jack says: "If we're not careful we'll end up living like members of the public."
On Wednesday Anthea got the boot, leaving Jack, Claire and Keith. The viewers must have warmed to Jack's explanation of why he should win: "My joyful nature helps the others see the sun behind the clouds." Quite so. On Friday Jack Dee won the game followed by Claire and Keith. Roll on Big Brother 2!
Celebrity Big Brother shared the highlights of the Comic Relief season along with Ali G's interview of Victoria and David Beckham. Posh Spice was asked: "Is your little boy putting sentences together yet?". When she replied "yes" Ali G asked her "And what about Brooklyn?"
Davina McCall hosted some of the shows again in which viewers voted out one-by-one five of Vanessa Feltz, Claire Sweeney of Brookside, Anthea Turner, Jack Dee, Keith Duffy of Boyzone and Lord Eubank of Baythwater.
